The supervisors’ vote to uphold a Planning Commission decision denying the project does not mean it’s dead, however. Phillips 66 can appeal to the 12-member California Coastal Commission and continue to fight the county’s decision in court.

The 3-1 vote Tuesday to reject the company’s appeal was met with cheers and applause from a crowd of county and statewide residents, some of whom have fought the project for years over concerns that any derailment along the route could be catastrophic.

Each month, significant progress is made to shield citizens from Phillips' intent to bring their crude oil trains through California's communities. The Mesa Refinery Watch Group puts out a newsletter detailing these stories. To access the latest news about the oil train fight, please click on the link below.

According to a study done by the Center for Biological Diversity, over one million California children go to school within a one-mile radius of an oil train blast zone. In the last several years there have been multiple accidents involving oil train derailments.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends an evacuation zone of at least a half-mile in all directions for a single tanker car on fire. But, if more than one tanker is caught on fire, one-or-more mile evacuation zone is recommended to prevent the inhalation of toxic fumes, matter, and heat.

Opponents and supporters packed Monday night's Grover Beach City Council meeting on the Phillips 66 Refinery Rail Project, which would double the amount of crude oil moved by rail through the Central Coast.

Protest letters flood in from north and south of San Luis Obispo County

BY CYNTHIA LAMBERT

clambert@thetribunenews.comJuly 11, 2015

Cities, school districts and public officials throughout California have signaled their opposition to a proposed project at the Nipomo Mesa refinery that would allow it to receive oil by rail, but nearly all San Luis Obispo County public agencies have stayed out of the fray.

Via the Santa Barbara Independent: The Santa Barbara City Council voted 5-2 to write a letter urging that San Luis Obispo reject an application by Phillips 66 to expand the railroad spur at its Nipomo refinery, thus creating the space necessary for a 1.4-mile-long train — carrying up to 80 cars of oil — to use the facility as a destination. Mayor Helene Schneider and Councilmember Gregg Hart put the item before the council, arguing the risk posed by the five oil trains expected per week was unacceptable.

Thank you for all those who came out on July 11th to say NO to the Phillips 66 oil train project! 400 people like you came out to support a healthy and safe San Luis Obispo County. Thank you to our speakers, including San Luis Obispo mayor, for adding your voice to this movement. Here’s a video of the rally and march.